"Art, like morality, consists of drawing the line somewhere."
--G.K. Chesterton
"The man's body is sacred and the woman's body is sacred.../Each belongs here or anywhere just as much as the well-off, just as much as you."
--Walt Whitman
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According to the Buddha, right speech is a statement that is timely, true, kind, helpful (connected to liberation), and spoken with a mind of good-will. Let us all try to observe this precept.
Lesléa Newman is the author of more than 50 books for children and adults, including the poetry collection Nobody's Mother (Orchard House Books, 2008). The poem below, reprinted by permission, won second runner-up for poetry in the 2010 Solstice Literary Contest . Read all the winners here .
Poem for Two Dogs, Hanged in Salem, 1692
Did they hang
their heads
as good dogs do
when someone
slips beside them
to loop
a collar
or a rope
around their furry necks
Did they prance
along proudly
as happy dogs do
when trotting
alongside a friend
or stranger
who’s taking them
away
for a nice long walk
Did they give
sloppy kisses
as loving dogs do
when a kind man
or gruff man
kneels
down beside them
and says sit
and stay
Did they shake
all over
as frightened dogs do
when startled by thunder
or lightning
or black hoods
placed over their heads
making everything too quiet
and dark
Did they swing
their tails
as innocent dogs do
when they’re puzzled
or confused
but still
trusting those near
will bring them
no harm
Or did they bare
their teeth
growl and leap
snapping at the Hangman
before he strung them up
and they rose
to Heaven
leaving bodies behind
to be buried like bones
